Threats and Follow-through

Bestowal dialogue

'By standing up to the Man, a fearsome brigand named Dirk Hawthorn, I fear I have doomed us all. He set up a camp immediately to the east, just on the south side of the ruins there.

'He threatened to return with enough forces to "stamp out my little homestead before it can be recognized as anything more than a burned patch of land". Mercy me! What a fool am I.

'Please, <name>, help me fix this error so that I can see this dream realized.'

Background

Adso's problems deepen as the brigands become more aggressive towards the poor hobbit.

Objective 1

• Defeat Dirk Hawthorn

Dirk Hawthorn is on the south side of the ruined wall at the foot of the hills surrounding the Barrow-downs, east of Adso's Camp.

Adso fears that the brigand leader, Dirk Hawthorn, will return and kill his workers in the night and asked you to deal with this threat before he could follow through.

Adso Haybank: 'Please don't let the brigands come here and kill these people. They are all innocent. I would hate to see any harm come to them due to my folly.'

Objective 2

• Talk to Adso Haybank

Adso awaits your return at his camp along the Great East Road.

The brigands at the ruined wall proved to be no true threat and were dispatched with ease.

Adso Haybank: 'With Dirk Hawthorn gone, I wonder if we can give Bill Ferny a bit of his own medicine?'

Paying Bills

Bestowal dialogue

'Before you run off, I wanted to ask you for another favour. While that brigand was talking to me I saw some of his seconds bullying one of my workers, while two others made off with a lot of my produce.

'That produce feeds my workers and keeps them strong. I need to get that back if they are to remain hale and hearty.

'I am certain you will find that the produce has been distributed to any of these foul brigands in the southern Bree-fields, but there are plenty near the ruins where you are going. Would you recover the produce for me?'

Background

Adso's problems become more difficult as the brigands continue to harass he and his workers.

Objective 1

• Collect Adso's goods (0/12)

Brigands in the southern Bree-fields may carry Adso's produce. Adso Haybank is at his camp along the Great East Road.

Adso worries that his workers will grow ill without proper meals and has asked you to recover his much-needed produce.

Adso Haybank: 'I am worried that my workers will grow ill without proper meals, and the only way to have proper meals is by eating vegatables!

'Please hurry and get my produce back before it spoils, or worse...is eaten by those foul brigands!'

Objective 2

• Return the produce to Adso

Brigands in the southern Bree-fields may carry Adso's produce. Adso Haybank is at his camp along the Great East Road.

Adso worries that his workers will grow ill without proper meals and has asked you to recover his much-needed produce.

Adso Haybank: 'You did it! Look at these onions still green and fresh. My workers as well are indebted to you now. I haven't much more to give, but you have earned at least this much.

'Thank you, <name>'

Payment in Full

Bestowal dialogue

'Look, friend, I have one more favour to ask of you, and it's a terrible thing, too, that fills me with shame to talk about. You know that Bill Ferny I had you pay off, before? Well he sent me a message telling me that his henchman, Brunmor, would be after me. He went so far as to tell me that the knave is west and north at some place called the Outlaw's Haven.

'It seems all his big talk is backed by this fellow, and if he is to come here, this scant crew till be useless. But you? You've proven yourself over and again! If you can drive off this Brunmor, maybe I can get out of this mess.

'Get rid of him for me, and I swear it's the last thing I'll ask of you...and I'll pay you well, too! Apparently, the Outlaw's Haven is west of my camp and a little ways north, with watchposts and a fenced encampment on a hill.'

Background

Adso Haybank has had enough of the brigands who have been extorting money and food from him.

Objective 1

• Defeat Brunmor

The brigand, Brunmor, is encamped at the Outlaw's Haven west and north of Adso's Camp.

Desperate to rid himself of his debts and his troubles, Adso Haybank has asked you to deal with Bill Ferny's associate, Brunmor.

Adso Haybank: 'I'm sorry to have to ask you to drive off those brigands for me. Their leader and Ferny's henchman, Brunmor, is encamped at the Outlaw's Haven, west and north of my camp.'

Defeated Brunmor

Objective 2

• Talk to Adso Haybank

Adso Haybank is at his camp, south-east along the Great East Road.

Desperate to rid himself of his troubles, Adso asked you to drive off the brigands who were extorting money from him. The hobbit will be glad to know that you have succeeded.

Adso Haybank: 'Thank you for your help, <name>, though I wish I didn't have to ask you to do it. I should have been the one, but I'm such a small person in this big world.

'Still, you've done everything I could have asked and more. You will always be welcome at Adso's!'

Down-payments

Bestowal dialogue

'I do not know what to do. The brigands told me to pay them three equal payments and that they would spare my workers and myself. I held my part of the bargain. Now they want more. I haven't anything left after sending workers to Buckland for supplies and the meagre rewards I can offer folk for helping out here and there.

'I cannot allow my workers to suffer for my mistakes. I fear I may need to stop work on the inn, but Chief-watcher Grimbriar is working against the brigands here...so I must ask. Would you be willing to help me send a message to these brigands?

'I hear that you have already done some work against the brigands before...I am sorry if I am mistaken. But, these are evil Men, and they must be stopped. If you are willing to help, could you return to the Old Sweetgrass Farm and send a message to these brigands? The Old Sweetgrass Farm is a short distance north-east of here.'

Background

Adso Haybank has asked your aid in serious action against the brigands extorting and threatening him and his workers.

Objective 1

• Defeat brigands at the Old Sweetgrass Farm (0/12)

Make your way to the Old Sweetgrass Farm north-east of Adso's Camp and help Adso drive the brigands away from his camp.

Adso can think of no way to drive the brigands off that does not involve violence. He sent you to fight and defeat brigands near Old Sweetgrass Farm.

Adso Haybank: 'I am not proud to ask this, but I must think of my workers.'

Objective 2

• Talk to Adso Haybank

Adso Haybank awaits your return at his camp to the south-west of Old Sweetgrass Farm along the Great East Road.

You should return to Adso Haybank with news of your success.

Adso Haybank: 'It's done then, and too late to change now. Oh me....

'I fear I have made a greater error than ever before. One of the Men came here, and I stood up to him. I fear that this may have been an error.'

Adso's Delivery

Bestowal dialogue

'Hey, friend, you're not from around here, And that may be a good thing. This is serious business, and I can't trust any of these louts with something so...so delicate. Making a place of my own took an unexpected turn not so long ago, and I am loath to tell my workers what has happened. I hope that you can help me with this matter. This satchel holds the last payment I need to make to ensure the safety of the folks here and the sanctity of this soon-to-be-splendid landmark.

'Just take it to the Old Sweetgrass Farm, a little ways north-east of here, and give it over to the man who answers the door. It may be Bill -- Bill Ferny that is -- or one of his helpers.

'Bill said he'll only be there at night, so don't waste your time hanging around during the day to catch a glimpse of him. Just knock on the door or rig the bell and hand over the satchel, hear me?'

Background

Adso Haybank, a hobbit of Bree, runs a hunting lodge and way station along the Great East Road. In order to facilitate the building of the lodge, his endeavor ran afoul of unsavoury sorts and now payments are coming due.

Objective 1

• Bring the satchel to Bill Ferny by night

or

• Ring the bell to summon Ferny or his assistant

Bill Ferny or his agent will be at the Old Sweetgrass Farm, north-east of Adso Haybank's camp.

In order to reduce his debt, Adso Haybank has asked you to take a satchel to a man named Bill Ferny. He warns you that you will only find Ferny at the arranged meeting place after nightfall. You must ring the bell to let Ferny or his agent know you have arrived.

Collected Adso's Satchel

Adso Haybank: 'Please make the delivery quickly. I do not want to see my workers put in greater danger.'

Bill Ferny: 'Ha! Soon Sharkey's Men'll have all of Bree well in hand. With cowards like that little worm Adso under heel, there's no question of that.

'You just tell Adso that this payment has been received, but he better have another ready next week, or it will go badly for him.'

Objective 2

• Talk to Adso Haybank at Adso's Camp

Adso Haybank's camp lies south-west of the Old Sweetgrass Farm.

Adso Haybank sent you to deliver a payment to the brutish Bill Ferny and now awaits your return.

Bill Ferny: 'You've done your part, now move along. Tell that hobbit we'll be calling again.'

Bill Ferny says, "Tell Adso that the deal has been altered. Keep those payments coming. Else, he and his workers die."

Adso Haybank: 'Another payment! This was supposed to be the last! I'll be driven to ruin, that rotten....

'But enough of my blather. I shouldn't burden you with my problems -- no, I should thank you for your help, friend. Truth be told, I was a bit frightened to out there at night by myself.

'If I could impose on you again, I have some true debts to pay, and to a nicer sort of folk.'